Fareham

Fareham's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Fareham increased by 3.3%, from just under 108,000 to 112,000.

The addition of just over 3,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Fareham was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Fareham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Fareham increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 13% of people in Fareham are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Fareham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Fareham

Fareham saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) in Fareham reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

Across the region, only Gosport saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 5.6% to 6.3%).

During this period, Fareham overtook 23 local authority areas, including Folkestone and Hythe and Winchester, to become the South East local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Fareham saw the South East's joint second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children, alongside Hastings.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in Fareham had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 61% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Fareham

The number of people in Fareham that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 15,000 in 2001 to just under 31,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Fareham that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 84,000 in 2001 to about 71,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,100 to about 8,100 (from 6.6% to 7.2%).

Just under 540 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 380 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Fareham increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Fareham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Fareham that rented privately increased from 5.0% to 10.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 7.6%, while the percentage of Fareham households that owned their home decreased from 86% to 80%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Fareham increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Fareham, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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